Showdown Looms for ECB, Germans

By

Brian Blackstone

July 31, 2012 9:53 p.m. ET

FRANKFURT—The European Central Bank is primed for a debate this week over whether to use its printing press to save the euro, with Germany's conservative central bank positioned to determine the course of Europe's escalating debt crisis.

The showdown pits ECB President Mario Draghi, a veteran Italian central banker who has headed the ECB since November, against Jens Weidmann, the 44-year-old Bundesbank president. Last week, Mr. Draghi said the ECB would "do whatever it takes to preserve the euro." The comments...